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What left this?

slugface
29/06/2022 10:03

Hello , 

What left this gift on my bicycle cover tarp?

It's about 3cm sort of globular, seems to contain bits of seed husks plant stalks etc.

Soft inside, mushy and greeny brown.

I thought it looked more mammalian than bird but any mammal would have a hard time getting on top

of the slippery tarp where this was left.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9SLnbqMf5b8CTLLK6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/s57i1TVtBquNURNQ8

Thanks for any ideas.

Andy.

  • 0 29/06/2022 12:07

    That looks to me like an bird pellet, or more commonly known as an owl pellet.

    When owls and other birds of prey catch small rodents to eat, they cannot digest the bones, fur and a few other bits. So they basically swallow the small rodent, and their digestive system sorts out the meat and then they regurgitate the rest as a combined fluff and bone ball, call a pellet.

    Which bird of prey, I've no idea, but I'm sure someone may be able to identify.

    Mike

    Flickr: Peak Rambler

  • 0 29/06/2022 14:22
    It's not just birds of prey that produce pellets - most birds do, though they're not always as recognisable. The owl or raptor pellets I've seen tend to have visible bones and hair in them, so if it's full of seeds and plant stalks, it could be from something more herbivorous. I vote you dissect it!
  • 0 29/06/2022 21:00
    Thanks for the replies.
    I am quite familiar with bird of prey pellets and it's certainly not that. Owl pellets etc are ovoid and regular in shape, this is a roundish dollop of something. Bird of prey pellets are dry and crumbly with bits of bone/ hair being visible this thing has the texture of wet sheep poo with what looks like undigested plant remains, it's also greeny brown inside , more green than brown which suggests again poorly digested plant remains.
    So the mystery remains?